Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 review: record-breaking open-ear earbuds (cloned)
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Anker’s unusual clip-on earbuds keep your ears open, stay secure during exercise and use clever AI technology to deliver remarkably clear phone calls.
I know I'm not the only person who has never really found in-ear buds comfortable, and this is why I get a little bit giddy whenever some new "clip" buds are launched. The latest ones I've been testing are the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 earbuds.
Clip-type buds loop around the outer edge of your ear, pointing a tiny speaker towards your ear canal while leaving you able to hear everything happening around you.
It's not only a technology that's handy for fussy types like me, but it's a very secure fit, which makes them particularly useful for running, walking the dog, or listening to music in an office where completely ignoring your colleagues is considered poor form.
The only trouble is, with the sound not being quite as direct, these "open-ear" buds have to fight harder to deliver clarity and punch. But Anker Soundcore does like a challenge.
To ensure the new AeroClip 2s are up to the task, and to ensure they justify their hefty £159.99 launch price, they've been fitted with LDAC audio, Bluetooth 6.0, multipoint connectivity, AI translation and a new processor designed to make phone calls clearer.
The result is an unusual set of earbuds that are comfortable, impressively capable and particularly good for calls.
They're so good, in fact, that Guinness World Records has officially certified them as having the "highest speech quality score" of any open-ear clip-on earbuds. Impressive stuff.
What I liked about the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2
Comfort is the most obvious advantage. Each earbud weighs just 6.2g and uses a flexible C-shaped bridge to grip the side of your ear.
Soundcore says the shape was developed using more than 2,000 ear scans, and the lightweight design spreads pressure across the ear rather than concentrating it inside the canal.
They also work particularly well if you wear glasses, because there isn’t a chunky hook competing for space behind your ear.
An IP57 rating provides protection against dust, sweat and splashes, and sound quality is kept solid thanks to 12mm dual-magnet drivers.
While it might be record-breaking, you still can't expect it to reproduce the deep, physical bass of good in-ear buds, but they avoid sounding thin or weedy.
But phone calls are the AeroClip 2’s headline feature. There are four microphones with two voice sensors and a trick AI processor to separate your speech from background noise. The result is, quite frankly, remarkable.
There’s even a whisper mode for making yourself heard without speaking loudly, and real-time translation covering more than 100 languages through the Soundcore app. This feels slightly more niche, and I haven't been able to test it, but frequent travellers may find it useful.
Battery life is also quite strong with up to eight hours and around 32 hours with the wireless charging case. All good stuff.
What I didn’t like about the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2
The thing that makes the AeroClip 2 useful is also its biggest limitation. Because your ears remain open, there’s no active noise cancellation and very little protection from external noise.
That’s brilliant beside a road or on a shared walking trail. It’s considerably less useful on a train, aircraft or beside someone enthusiastically attacking the lawn with a petrol mower.
Increasing the volume can compensate to a point, but doing so risks sound leakage and defeats some of the safety benefits of an open design. The position of the speaker also matters, so you may need to adjust each clip before the stereo balance and bass sound right.
At £159.99, they aren’t cheap. The first-generation AeroClip is still available and may offer better value if call quality, the improved water resistance and newer AI features aren’t priorities.
Overall verdict: should you buy the Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2?
These buds make the most sense for people who prioritise comfort, awareness and phone calls over isolation and thumping bass.
They’re light, secure and far easier to wear for extended periods than many conventional earbuds.
Call quality is a genuine strength, while Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, multipoint pairing and app-based tuning give them a strong supporting cast of features.
Audiophiles might be forced to look elsewhere, but for casual use, running, dog walking, working from home, or taking calls throughout the day, the AeroClip 2 are among the most convincing open-ear options available.